New trend for holidaying alone but love still top reason for travel

Flying solo: Trend for solo travel booms as stigma of singledom fades (but finding love is still the top reason for taking a holiday)

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UPDATED:

10:46 GMT, 30 August 2012

Can't find anyone to go on holiday with Relax!

Any stigma that was once attached to taking a break by yourself has vanished, and a new generation of solo travellers has emerged.

There is a fast-growing holiday market for confident 30 to 50-year-olds who are quite happy with their single status, according to new research.

More single people aged between 30 and 50 are taking holidays alone, proving that the stigma of solo travel has vanished

Several thousand single people were surveyed as part of the study, and almost half said they enjoyed being single, proving that yesterday's Bridget Jones is making way for a more independent, self-sufficient sort of woman.

Some 40 per cent of participants said they felt there was no stigma whatsoever attached to being single any more, having seen a real shift in public perception over the past few years – thanks, in part, to the rise of internet dating.

Over 60 per cent of people surveyed said taking holidays was still extremely important to them, despite the economic climate, and 20 per cent said they would consider taking more annual breaks than ever before

The research, which was carried out by Solos Holidays, also found that over 60 per cent of those surveyed felt holidays were extremely important to them.

And 70 per cent stated that would continue to take the same number of holidays over the next three years, regardless of the economic climate.

Twenty-three per cent admitted they are even considering increasing the number of annual holidays they take.

The singles market is the fastest growing sector in travel today

While a significant number of travellers aged over-50 year confirmed they still had a 'keen sense of adventure' (over 20 per cent), the biggest motivation for choosing a solo holiday was for more leisurely relaxation.

Andrew Williams, Managing Director for Solos Holidays, said: 'The singles market is the fastest growing sector in travel today, and we have been leading the way in this market place for over 30 years.

'Today we are seeing a rapidly growing 35 to 50 year-old-single traveller market, which no longer sees a stigma in travelling solo, and we continue to adapt our offer to cater to their needs and to ensure we remain top of our field.'

The top motive for taking a holiday Finding love

Finding love is still the number one reason for taking a holiday

We may be happier than ever to go on holiday alone, but we'd still like to find love when we get there.

And, ideally, bring it back with us.

Before getting a tan, having a new experience or even de-stressing, finding love with a new partner is the number one thing people want to return from holiday with.

It's even higher than having a sexual holiday fling or finding new friendship.

The survey, carried out by travel company Miss Travel, also revealed that not getting a tan is still our top holiday fear (57 per cent of us are scared of this).